Kinetic study of Berthelot reaction steps in the absence and presence of coupling reagents

Several reaction steps in the Berthelot reaction for the determination of ammonia have been separately studied. A reaction order of two has been confirmed for the reaction between HOCl and NH(3). The rate constant for this reaction has been determined to be 3.2 x 10(6)l.mole(-1).sec(-1). The first evidence for the formation of benzoquinonechlorimine is presented. Pentacyanoferrate coupling reagents which accelerate the production of indophenol have been found to operate on the reaction between NH(2)Cl and phenol. The rate constant for the final step of the reaction sequence has been determined to be 5.3 x 10(-3)l.mole(-1).sec(-1). A reaction between chlorimine and pentacyanoferrate compounds has been found to be responsible for the formation of a green product in the presence of excess of coupling reagent.